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Iranian pastoralists face unprecedented drought challenges that threaten traditional livelihoods and community stability. This case study examines how 102 pastoralists across six villages in the Nodoushan watershed, Yazd province, utilise social network structures to maintain resilience during prolonged drought conditions. Through social network analysis and structural equation modelling, we mapped relationship patterns and assessed their connections to ten dimensions of community resilience specific to pastoral contexts. The study reveals that Iranian pastoralists rely heavily on innovation and governance networks for drought adaptation, while some traditional practices show diminishing effectiveness under current climate conditions. Communities with stronger innovation networks demonstrate greater capacity to adapt grazing strategies, diversify livelihoods, and access external resources. Governance networks facilitate collective decision-making about water allocation and pasture management critical for pastoral survival. These findings provide evidence-based insights for supporting Iranian pastoralists facing climate change, emphasising the need for policies that strengthen existing social networks while facilitating adaptive innovations in traditional pastoral systems.
Ghorbani et al. (Tue,) studied this question.